Employers
The large military presence draws a great diversity of technology-based firms, defense contractors, education, and supporting industries.
Top Okaloosa County Public and Private Sectors Employers
| 2026 Top Employers | Employee Count | Industry | Public or Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa County School District (Combined) | 4,428 | Education | Public |
| Walmart Supercenter (Combined) | 1,386 | Retail | Private |
| HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital | 1,252 | Medical | Private |
| Okaloosa County | 1,127 | Government | Public |
| Publix (Combined) | 910 | Retail | Private |
| Reliance Test & Technology, LLC | 770 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| Lockheed Martin | 730 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| North Okaloosa Medical Center | 725 | Medical | Private |
| Astrion | 715 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| Northwest Florida State College | 644 | Education | Public |
|
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office |
503 | Government | Public |
| Lowe's Home Improvement (Combined) | 490 | Retail | Private |
| Eglin Federal Credit Union | 458 | Financial Institution | Private |
| Chick-Fil-A (Combined) | 425 | Retail | Private |
| Leonardo DRS | 424 | Defense Contractor | Private |
Source: One Okaloosa EDC, Survey Responses. Not all inclusive and does not include the federal government.
Top Okaloosa County Private Sector
| 2026 Top Employers | Employee Count | Industry | Public or Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Supercenter (Combined) | 1,386 | Retail | Private |
| HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital | 1,252 | Medical | Private |
| Publix (Combined) | 910 | Retail | Private |
| Reliance Test & Technology, LLC | 770 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| Lockheed Martin | 730 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| North Okaloosa Medical Center | 725 | Medical | Private |
| Astrion | 715 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| Lowe's Home Improvement (Combined) | 490 | Retail | Private |
| Eglin Federal Credit Union | 458 | Financial Institution | Private |
| Chick-Fil-A (Combined) | 425 | Retail | Private |
| Leonardo DRS | 424 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| Step One Automotive Group (Combined) | 403 | Auto Dealership | Private |
| Boeing Co | 382 | Defense Contractor | Private |
| HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital | 340 | Medical | Private |
| The Home Depot (Combined) | 345 | Defense Contractor | Private |
Source: One Okaloosa EDC, Survey Responses. Not all inclusive and does not include the federal government.